Asus releases cheaper ROG NUC 16 gaming mini PC with Core Ultra 7 and 32GB RAM
Asus has quietly opened preorders for a new variant of its ROG NUC 16 mini PC in the US. The 3L gaming-focused system first launched with an Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU (curr: $3,799 on Amazon). Asus later introduced a special edition model with an RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, starting at a steep $5,999.
Now, Asus has turned to the RTX 5060 Laptop GPU and Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus for its latest configuration, bringing the starting price further down. Specifically, the new ROG NUC 16 with the Core Ultra 7 is available to pre-order on Amazon for $2,499, $1,300 less than the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus variant. Shipping is slated to begin on August 1, 2026.
ⓘ Lenovo
ⓘ LenovoNeedless to say, the new configuration comes with a slight drop in performance compared to the higher-end options but should still be able to handle most modern games. Asus pairs the RTX 5060 and Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus with 32GB of DDR5-6400 memory and PCIe Gen 4 storage.
As covered previously, the ROG NUC 16 packs everything into a compact 3L chassis that can be positioned vertically or horizontally to suit your setup. It also supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 and includes a wealth of ports.
That said, we've only spotted the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus version of the ROG NUC 16 in the US so far, and it's unclear whether Asus plans to release the cheaper configuration in other markets.
ⓘ AsusAsus ROG NUC 16 mini PC ports offering
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Elvis Shida \- Tech Editor \- 226 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2025
My love for gadgets started way back in high school when I successfully updated my Samsung Galaxy S III mini from Android 4.1.1 to Android 5.0 using a custom ROM I found online. I now hold a BS in Information Technology and have spent the last seven years building PCs for clients and writing news, product reviews, and buying guides about PC hardware, gaming, and consumer electronics. Before joining Notebookcheck, I was a commerce writer at Game Rant and a junior editor for buying guides at MakeUseOf.
contact me via: @elvisonx, LinkedIn
\> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations \> News \> News Archive \> Newsarchive 2026 07 \> Asus releases cheaper ROG NUC 16 gaming mini PC with Core Ultra 7 and 32GB RAM
Elvis Shida, 2026-07-29 (Update: 2026-07-29)